French Open Final Preview: Expectations Ride High on Carlos Alcaraz Over Alexander Zverev as Tantalising Big-3 Feat Awaits

Carlos Alcaraz has once again proved that the next generation has arrived on the ATP Tour. After defeating the likes of the number 2 seed, Jannik Sinner, and the 9th seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Spanish tennis sensation is now one win away from his third Grand Slam title. Given his recent exploits at the French Open, the 21-year-old is being deemed the favorite to win his championship match against Alexander Zverev. However, despite this, it will be Alcaraz who will be entering the finale with a lot of pressure as a ‘Big 3’ feat now awaits him.

This title match at the Roland Garros will also mark the 12th meeting between Alcaraz and Zverev, with the German player currently having a 7-4 lead in their H2H record. Can the young Spaniard now prevail in this challenging task and join the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic on an elite list?

Carlos Alcaraz is on the verge of pulling off a ‘Big 3’ feat on the men’s tour

Whether it is clay or grass, the 2-time singles Grand Slam champion is a force to be reckoned with on every court surface. Back in 2022, Alcaraz clinched his first Grand Slam title after outclassing his Norwegian opponent Casper Ruud, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3, at the US Open. After winning the hard-court major title, the Spanish player also won the grass-court major title in the very next season. He pulled off a brilliant comeback after a nervy start and went on to beat Novak Djokovic in a five set thriller, 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4, in the title match of Wimbledon men’s singles.

Now that he also reached the finals of this season’s French Open, Alcaraz has become the youngest player in the Open Era to reach men’s singles finals in Grand Slam events on clay, grass, and hard courts. Further, the current number 3 player might now also join the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Djokovic, who have won major titles on all three different surfaces. While speaking about his stellar performances on all surfaces, the 21-year-old recently opened up about how he has been inspired by the ‘Big 4’.

“Well, I always wanted to be one of the best players in the world. If I want to be, you know, one of the best players in the world, I have to be a good player in every surface, like, Roger did, Novak, Rafa, Murray,” he said in a press conference at the Roland Garros. Alcaraz added, “The best players in the world had success in every surface.” More expectations will ride high on the young Spaniard as he will also aim to keep his country’s flag flying over the Grand Slam event in Paris.

Carlos Alcaraz will look to emulate the Spanish tennis greats at the French Open

The clay courts in the capital city of France have been graced by some of the greatest players from Spain. With a remarkable display of their on-court prowess, the likes of Albert Costa, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Rafael Nadal have marked triumphant campaigns on the Parisian clay in the 21st century. If Alcaraz manages to prevail in his championship game of this season’s French Open, he will join these tennis greats from his country as he will become the fourth Spaniard to win the clay-court major.

It has also been one of Alcaraz’s goals to join the elite list of Spanish players who have won this Grand Slam tournament in Paris. While expressing his admiration for the ‘King of Clay,’ Nadal, he said, “I watched a lot of matches. Of course, Rafa Nadal dominating this tournament for, let’s say, 14, 15 years. It’s something unbelievable. I wanted to put my name on that list of the Spanish players who won this tournament.” Not just Nadal but the young Spanish tennis sensation aims to emulate other greats like Ferrero, Moya, and Costa, who were formidable forces on the Parisian clay.

“Not only Rafa. Ferrero, Moya, Costa, a lot of Spanish players, legends from our sport that won this tournament, I really want to put my name on that list, as well,” Alcaraz said. Do you think that Carlos Alcaraz can clinch this season’s French Open title and join some of the Spanish tennis greats on the elite list? Let us know in the comments section.